I-94 crash in Chesterfield one of several accidents in Macomb County

By
Mitch Hotts, The Macomb Daily

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Police in several Macomb County communities on Tuesday were busy working on traffic accidents including one that forced the closure of eastbound Interstate 94 at 21 Mile Road in Chesterfield Township for about two hours during the evening rush hour.

“We’ve handled a number of accidents today, I don’t know if it’s the weather or what that may be causing them,” said Capt. John Roberts of the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office.

The biggest mess of the day took place as the evening rush hour was under way about 6 p.m. when five cars collided on eastbound I-94 near 23 Mile Road in Chesterfield Township.

Officer Jason Brockdorff said a motorist was unable to stop as he came upon a series of cars stopped in the exit lane and ran into the back of a car. That car spun around and hit another vehicle in the far left lane. The driver who caused the initial crash then hit two more vehicles.

“There were a few people with minor injuries but I believe they only transported one driver, a male, for observation,” Brockdorff said. “The driver who caused the incident was issued a citation for failing to stop.”

Motorists were forced off I-94 at 21 Mile Road and the eastbound side of the freeway remained closed for more than two hours as police conducted their investigation. The freeway was finally re-opened to traffic around 7:30 p.m.

A short time before the I-94 crash, Chesterfield Township officers were called to handle a four-car accident on 23 Mile Road near the Rosie O’Grady’s restaurant. That accident began when a Durango crashed into the back of a Chevy Avail occupied by two infants and their mother, who were trapped in the wreckage.

Fire crews used the Jaws of Life tool to cut the roof off the Avail to free the occupants. None were seriously hurt but were taken in for medical observation.

Meanwhile, a Waste Management dumpster roll-off truck crashed into a condominium on Garfield Road between Hall and 21 Mile roads in Macomb Township about 4 p.m., according to the sheriff’s office.

Roberts said the driver, a 44-year-old Farmington Hills man, apparently suffered a medical issue that forced him to lose control of his rig as he headed northbound on Garfield. The truck, which was not carrying a load, crossed the southbound lanes and into a ditch before smashing into the Warwick Village complex, damaging a patio and wall. At least one person was inside of the condo, but was not hurt, Roberts said.

The driver was taken to an area hospital for evaluation but was not injured. Alcohol was not a factor, Roberts added.

In Eastpointe, a car that authorities said had lost its brakes crashed into the front of First State Bank on 10 Mile Road near Hayes Road on Tuesday morning. Neither the driver nor bank personnel were hurt.